Automatic cleansing system for icemaking machines



April 1968 c. E. SODERBERG 3,377,815

AUTOMATIC CLEANSING SYSTEM FOR ICEMAKING MACHINES Filed Oct. 17, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/GZ INVENTOR.

CARL E. SODERBERG p ATTOR'N s A ril 16, 1968 C. E. SODERBERG AUTOMATIC CLEANSING SYSTEM FOR ICEMAKING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 17, 1966 INVENTOR.

CARL E. SODERBERG TTORNEYS United States Patent 3,377,815 AUTOMATIC CLEANSING SYSTEM FOR ICEMAKENG MACHINES Carl E. Soderberg, 707 N. Main, Wichita, Kans. 67203 Filed Oct. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 587,396 9 Claims. (Cl. 62-137) This invention relates to an apparatus for freezing liquids, and more particularly, to an icemaking machine. Still, more specifically, the invention relates to a new and novel automatic cleansing system for flushing impurities out of the freezing chamber of an icemaking machine.

Various types of icemaking machines are known to the prior art operable to automatically produce small ice particles by the addition of Water to a freezing chamber. This creates a problem after using the same for a given period of time as the mineral impurities in the Water tend to settle in the freezing chamber and creates a solution known as brine which will not freeze satisfactorily and results in the production of impure, cloudy type ice particles. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically clean the freezing chamber of an icemaking machine and such procedure is time consuming, and the periodic necessity therefore varies depending on the initial condition of the water being used and the production rate of making the ice particles. It is necessary therefore to provide a simplified means for periodically flushing out the freezing chamber of icemaking machines to maintain purity in the ice particles being produced for mechantability and health reasons.

The periodic removal of brine from the freezing chamber results in the production of clean, clear ice particles which is a necessity and most desirable for the appearance and sale of the ice particles; and, additionally, governmental agencies are tending to require a purity requirement for the ice produced from conventional ice making machines. Therefore, it is imperative that an economical, dependable means he provided to assure periodic flushing and draining of the freezing chamber of the icemaking machines.

In accordance with the present invention, a new automatic draining system for icemaking machines is provided which operates to periodically drain and flush out a freezing chamber of conventional icemaking machines. The new cleansing system involves a fluid inlet line or conduit connected to the freezing chamber having a supply reservoir and a first valve member mounted therein. At the lowermost portion of the freezing chamber is an opening leading into a pipe member having a second valve member mounted therein to control fluid flow therethrough. A timer mechanism is connected to the first and second valve members and operable to control fluid flow through the conduit and the pipe member in conjunction with the reservoir to achieve periodic draining and flushing of the chamber.

In preferred specific embodiments of the invention, an automatic cleansing system is provided for an icemaking machine and the like having an inlet conduit and a discharge pipe member connected to a freezing chamber to supply and drain, respectively, fluid relative thereto. The inlet conduit has a first solenoid valve member and a supply reservoir connected thereto whereby the first valve member is operable to control fluid flow into the reservoir. The reservoir has a float member connected to the inlet section of the reservoir and a lower discharge opening to convey fluid therefrom to the freezing chamber. A second solenoid valve member is connected to the pipe member to control fluid drainage therethrough from the freezing chamber. The first and second valve members are normally closed and normally opened, respectively, and connected by a circuit means to a timer mechanism to periodically control actuation of the second valve member to drain fluid within the freezing chamber. Additionally, the circuit means includes a special control switch to de-energize the first and second valve members after producing the required amount of ice particles to flush out the freezing chamber with the fluid contained in the reservoir. The automatic cleansing system of this invention is operable to periodically drain the freezing chamber by the timer mechanism'and additionally flush out the impurities contained therein by the fluid available in the supply reservoir whenever the machine is in the nonproducing state.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and novel icemaking machine overcoming the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices.

Another object of this inventon is to provide a cleansing system for an icemaking machine that is operable to both drain and flush out the freezing chamber thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide an automatic cleansing system for a freezing chamber of a conventional icemaking machine operable to automatically and periodically clean and flush out the freezing chamber.

Still, another object of this invention is to provide an icemaking machine having an automatic system therein for removing brine and other foreign impurities from the freezing chamber thereof at pre-selected intervals of time.

One other object of this invention is to provide an automatic cleansing system for a freezing chamber of an icemaking machine having inlet and outlet supply lines thereto and solenoid valve members mounted in the lines to control the fluid flow therethrough as desired by a timer mechanism.

One other object of this invention is to provide an automatic cleansing system for an icemaking machine having an elevated supply reservoir adapted to supply a given amount of fluid into the freezing chamber for the periodic cleansing and flushing thereof.

Still, one further object of this invention is to provide an icemaking machine having an automatic cleansing system therein which is simple to operate, economical to manufacture, dependable in operation, and inexpensive to maintain.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the icemaking machine of this invention having portions thereof broken away for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1 illustrating the freezing chamber and automatic cleansing system of the icemaking machine of this invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the freezing chamber and automatic cleansing system of the icemaking machine of this invention having portions thereof broken away for clarity; an

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the control circuit means of the automatic cleansing system of the icemalzing machine of this invention.

T re following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the new icemaking machine of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description does not unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular FIG. 1, an icemaking machine, indicated generally at 12, includes an outer housing or cabinet 1 3 having an icemaking mechanism 16 mounted therein.

More particularly, the cabinet 14 is of a large rectangular shape supported by shock and vibration absorbers 17 on a supporting surface 18. The cabinet 14 has an insulated ice particle storage chamber 20 accessible thereto through a customer or entrance opening 22 on lifting a sliding door 24 and a mechanism containing compartment 25. The icemaking mechanism 16 includes a freezing chamber means 27 interconnected to a compressor means 29, a heat exchanger means 31, and an expansion valve means 32 to provide the proper refrigeration to the freezing chamber means 27. The details of the structure and operation of the icemaking mechanism 16 of this invention are clearly set forth in applicants issued patent, No. 3,205,673, issued Sept. 14, 1965.

The freezing chamber means 27 includes an upright vessel 34 having a downwardly tapered frusto-conical freezing chamber 36 mounted on a support shelf 37 in the compartment 25. The freezing chamber 36 has an upper discharge portion 39 with an opening 41 coopcrating with a chute member 43 leading into the storage chamber 20. The freezing chamber 36 has upper and lower inlet and outlet openings 45 and 46, respectively, to supply and drain fluid such as water thereto to be frozen as will be explained. Mounted within the freezing chamber 36 is a rotatable frusto-conical anger means 43 saving a helical flight 49 thereon adjacent the inner wall 51 of the freezing chamber 36. The auger means 48 has a downwardly extended shaft 53 connected to a transmission means 54 having a laterally extended intermediate shaft 56 with a pulley 57 on the outer end thereof. The transmission means 54 is vertically supported on a plate 59 secured to the walls of the compartment 25 which also supports an electric motor 61 connected by a pulley 62 and a belt 63 to the pulley 57 for driving engagement. It is obvious that the motor 61 is connected through a conductor 65 for energization and operation in a conventional manner to rotate the auger means 48 during the icemaking operation.

Generally, the freezing chamber means 27 is operable to freeze a fluid supplied through the inlet opening 45 and remove the same on rotation of the auger means 48 for continuous discharge through the chute member 43 into the storage chamber 20. More specifically, the temperature of the freezing chamber 36 is lowered by cooling coils 67 mounted about the outer surface of the upright vessel 34. The compressor means 29 operates to compress the freezing liquid therein such as Freon or the like for transfer through a conduit 6-8 to the heat exchanger means 31. The Freon liquid is then cooled and transferred by a conduit 70 to the expansion valve means 32 wherein the Freon liquid is expanded resulting in a rapid decrease in the pressure and temperature thereof. The now extremely cool Freon liquid is fed into the cooling coils 67 about the vessel 34 to create a low freezing temperature therein. Then, the expanded fluid is fed into the compressor means 29 by a conduit 71 to be compressed and begin a new cycle as described above identical to conventional freezing cycles.

Additionally, the new and novel icemaking machine 12.

of this invention includes a solenoid drainage or cleansing system 73 to maint control of fluid flow to be frozen into and out of the freezing chamber 36 through the inlet and outlet openings 45 and as, respectively, thereto. As shown in FIG. 3, a fluid or water supply pipe member 75 is connected through a first solenoid valve member 77 to a reservoir tank 78. The first valve member 77 is operable to control fluid flow into the reservoir tank 78 as Jill. become obvious.

On the inlet to the reservoir tank 78 is connected to flow valve 80 actuated by an interconnected float ball 81 to control the fluid level within the reservoir tank 73. The float ball 31 acts as an actuator lever to shut off fluid flow into the tank 7 8 on reaching a pre-determined high level and permits fluid flow thereinto at a lower level. The reservoir tank 73 has an outlet opening 82 near the bottom portion thereof connected by a conduit 84 to the inlet opening 45 of the freezing chamber 36. The reservoir tank 73 is of a rectangular box shape having an upper cover plate 85 removable for purposes of maintenance. It is seen, therefore, that any fluid contained within the reservoir tank 78 will flow under the force of gravity into the freezing chamber 36 for the making thereof into frozen particles or flushing out the same as will be explained.

As seen in FIG. 3, the fluid within the freezing chamber 36 is periodically drained through the outlet opening @6 into a discharge pipe member or conduit 87 to a conventional drainage sewer or the like (not shown). Below the vessel 34 and mounted within the discharge conduit 87 is a second solenoid valve member 88 operable to open the close fluid flow therethrough. The first and second valve members 77 and 83 are preferably of the magnetic actuated type having an axially movable central plunger operable to open and close flow through the pipe member 75 and conduit 87, respectively.

The solenoid drainage system 73 further includes a timer mechanism 99 interconnected by a circuit means 91 to the first and second valve members 77 and 88 (FIG. 4). The circuit means 91 includes a power supply line 93 connected through an on-otf switch 95 to a special switch 97 both operable to control current flow through the entire drainage system 73. it is obvious that the special switch 97 can be connected to the compressor means 29 and the heat exchanger means 31 to also control the freezing operation of the icemaking machine 12. A line 98 from the switch E7 is connected to a lever switch 99 in the timer mechanism 9'6 and a solenoid 101 in the first valve members 77. The lever switch 99 has a central terminal 103 connected by a line 105 to a solenoid 166 in the second valve member 88. The circuit in the solenoids 101 and 106 are completed through a conductor 108. The switch 99 in the timer mechanism 90 has a lever arm 11% normally closed completing a circuit through lines 93, 98, and 1% to the second valve member 88. The rotating or ratchet type lever arm is operable to periodically break the circuit to the second valve member 88 for reasons to become obvious.

In the use and operation of the icemaking machine 12 of this invention, the motor 61, heat exchanger means 31 and compressor means 29 are energized in a conventional manner as by the one and off switch 95 and closed switch 97 to create a sub-freezing condition within the chamber 36. The motor 61 acts through the pulleys 57 and 62 and the belt 63 to rotate the auger means 43 for scraping frozen material from the inner walls 51 of the freezing chamber 36 and moving the same upward on the helical flight 4? for discharge through the chute member 43.

In order to initially form the frozen material, the solenoid drainage system 73 is energized through the lines 93 and 108 and the closed special switch )7. The first valve member 77 (a normally closed solenoid type) is energized through lines 93, 98, and 108 to permit fluid flow through the water supply pipe member 75 into the reservoir tank 78 for gravity flow through the conduit 84 and inlet opening 45 into the freezing chamber 36.

Additionally, assuming the lever arm 110 of the timer mechanism 90 is closed, the second valve member 88 (a normally open solenoid type) is energized and closed to prevent fluid drainage from the outlet opening 46 through the discharge conduit 87. This procedure presents the normal icemaking process of the machine 12 of this invention with the fluid going into the freezing chamber 36 to be made into frozen particles on the inner walls 51 and scraped loose by the rotating auger means 48 for discharge through the chute member 43 into the storage chamber 20. A control valve 111 can be mounted in the conduit 84 to regulate the fluid flow into the freezing chamber so as to correspond to the freezing temperature therein and the rotational speed of the auger means 48.

The special switch 97 is mounted within the storage chamber 20 and can be of a lever-actuated type whereby the newly formed frozen particles operate to move an actuator arm upwardly and disconnect the current to the drainage system 73. Additionally, it is obvious that the switch 97 can be of a temperature-actuated or an electric eye type operable to disconnect the current therein when a sufircient amount of frozen particles has been supplied to the storage chamber 20. Regardless of the type of switch 97 used, on de-energizing the circuit through lines 93 and 98, the first and second valve members 77 and 88 return to the normal conditions of closed and open, respectively. In this condition, the fluid within the reservoir tank 78 continues to flow into the freezing chamber 36 for discharge through the conduit 87. This operates not only to drain the brine and saline impurities from the freezing chamber 36 but the fluid within the reservoir tank 78 flushes out and cleans the interior thereof. It is obivous that this cleaning action occurs every time the machine 12 is disconnected by the on-off switch 95 and, again, each time the frozen particles fill the storage chamber 20 to actuate the special switch 97.

Additionally, the new and novel flushing action can be regulated by the timer mechanism 90 to periodically clean the freezing chamber 36. For example, the timer mechanism 90 can be set to actuate the lever arm 110 every thirty minutes to disconnect the circuit through lines 98 and 105 to the second valve member 88. This operates to return the valve member 88 to the normally open position whereby fluid within and the fluid that flows thereinto from the reservoir tank 78 is discharged through the now open discharge conduit 87 to drain and flush out the freezing chamber 36. It is seen that the first valve member 77 remains open to continuously supply fluid to the freezing chamber 36 whereby the timer mechanism 90 is operable after approximately 15 to 30 seconds to close the lever arm 110 and return the drainage system 73 to the normal freezing condition.

It is seen that the ice making machine 12 of this invention presents a new and novel structure operable to efficiently and effectively drain the brine and impurities from within the freezing chamber 36. It is obvious that the icemaking machine 12 is normally used to produce frozen ice particles; however, other types of liquids could be frozen therein. The solenoid drainage system 73 operates to assuredly and automatically flush out the freezing chamber 36 which procedure is absolutely necessary to produce clear, clean ice crystals and such cleansing is rapidly becoming a governmental requirement.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of applicants icemaking machine, relative simple and inexpensive drainage means have been provided which are readily attachable to conventionally available icemaking machines so as to provide a new, novel, and relatively simple means for automatically and periodically draining and flushing out the freezing chamber of brine and impurities contained therein. Applicants construction eliminates a great deal of timeconsuming and tedious work involved in the cleansing and drainage of freezing chamber and such results in a great savings in manpower with resultant monetary savings.

While this invention has been described in connection with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for manufacturing frozen crystal particles, comprising:

(-a) a freezing chamber having inlet and outlet openings to receive and discharge, respectively, material to be frozen therein,

(b) material supply means having a conduit connected to said inlet opening,

(c) material discharge means having a pipe member connected to said outlet opening, and

(d) control means connected to said conduit and said pipe member operable to control movement of the material therethrough, said control means operable under one set of conditions to open said pipe member and close said conduit to flush out said chamber with the material contained within said conduit and said chamber and, operable under another set of conditions, to open said pipe member and said conduit to continuously flush out said chamber for a predetermined period of time.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said material supply means having a supply reservoir mounted in said conduit adapted to receive and transfer the material,

(b) said control means having a valve member mounted in said conduit operable to control material flow into said reservoir whereby under said one set of conditions the material is drained from said reservoir into said freezing chamber through said pipe member for the flushing thereof.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein:

(a) said valve member of a normally closed solenoid type and,

(b) said control means having a timer mechanism and circuit means to energize said timer mechanism and connect the same to said valve member to periodically de-energize said valve member during normal freezing operations to flush out said chamber.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said control means having a normally open valve member mounted in said pipe member to control material flow therethrough, and said control means having a timer mechanism and a circuit means con necting said timer mechanism to said normally open valve member to open and close said pipe member for controlling material flow therethrough.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein:

(a) said control means having a normally closed valve member mounted in said conduit means connected by said circuit means to said timer mechanism,

(b) under said one set of conditions, said normally open and normally closed valve members de-energized to drain and flush out said freezing chamber, and

(c) under said another set of conditions, said normally closed valve member energized and said normally open Valve member de-energized to supply material into said freezing chamber for flow through said pipe member for the flushing of said chamber.

6. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said material supply means having a supply reservoir connected to said conduit, said reservoir having an upper supply opening and lower discharge opena,

(b) said reservoir having a float member connected to said supply opening to maintain a given fluid level therein, and

(c) said control means having first and second valve members connected to said conduit and said pipe member, respectively, operable with said first valve member closed and said second valve member open le on production of a sufficient amount of the frozen to flush out said freezing chamber with the material crystal particles to create said another set of condicontained in said reservoir. tions and open said pipe member.

7. An apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein:

(a) said control means operable with said first and References Cited second valve members open to continuously flush out UNHED STATES PATENTS said freezing chamber by material received through said supply means. 4 ,0 9 /1960 Roberts 62349 X 8. An apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein: FOP EEGN PATENTS (a) said control means having a timer mechanism con- 10 nected to said second valve member to periodically 409,499 5/1934 Great Bummopen and close the same during freezing operations to fl h t id f i h be ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner. 9. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein: (a) said control means having a switch member opera- 15 WAYNER Asszsmm Examum' 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING FROZEN CRYSTAL PARTICLES, COMPRISING: (A) A FREEZING CHAMBER HAVING INLET AND OUTLET OPENINGS TO RECEIVE AND DISCHARGE, RESPECTIVELY, MATERIAL TO BE FROZEN THEREIN, (B) MATERIAL SUPPLY MEANS HAVING A CONDUIT CONNECTED TO SAID INLET OPENING, (C) MATERIAL DISCHARGE MEANS HAVING A PIPE MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID OUTLET OPENING, AND (D) CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CONDUIT AND SAID PIPE MEMBER OPERABLE TO CONTROL MOVEMENT OF THE MATERIAL THERETHROUGH, SAID CONTROL MEANS OPERABLE UNDER ONE SET OF CONDITIONS TO OPEN SAID PIPE MEMBER AND CLOSE SAID CONDUIT TO FLUSH OUT SAID CHAMBER WITH THE MATERIAL CONTAINED WITHIN SAID CONDUIT AND SAID CHAMBER AND, OPERABLE UNDER ANOTHER SET OF CONDITIONS, TO OPEN SAID PIPE MEMBER AND SAID CONDUIT TO CONTINUOUSLY FLUSH OUT SAID CHAMBER FOR A PREDETERMINED PERIOD OF TIME. 